Variable speed transmission



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Filed Feb. 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 bwk..

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April 29, 1941.. A. G. BABE VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed Feb. Y2'?, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2A NVENTOR.

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VILE SPEED TRANSIVHSSON Application February 27,' 1936, Serial No. 66,0411

(Cl. 'lt-281) ld Claims.

This invention relates to variable speed transmissions of the type involving a group oi longitudinally tapered planetary rollers and an encircling contact ring adjustable lengthwise of the rollers to regulate their planetary action.

ln transmissions of this type, the rollers are ordinarily mounted to revolve about what might be termed a main or central axis and also to rotate about their individual axes which are inclined to the main .axis in such. direction and to such extent that the outer extremities of the rollers are parallel to the main axis. Each roller is preferably connected to a gear coaxial therewith and forming a part of a positive torque transmitting gear train.

'One object of the present invention is to provide improved means for expanding the roller group against the encircling ring so as to maintain the desired contact pressures between the rollers and ring without disturbing the axes of ,the individual rollers and their connected gears.

This l accomplish by the use oi resilient means for urging the rollers lengthwise along their out- Wardly inclined individual axes.

Other objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of an illustrative embent of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:v

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a variable speed transmission constructed in ac= cordance with the present invention, this view being talren along the line l--i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2--2 ol Fig. il.

The transmission shown is enclosed in a housing comprising a base plate it, end walls il and it, and a removable cover it. lit includes a ll` it and it in the end wall ii, and a drive shaft it, journalled in a bearing lli in the end wall it and in a bearing it in a hollow head2@ carried by the shalt it. The drive shaft il carries a sun gear il which meshes with a plurality of planet gears it which ln turn mesh with an internal orbit gear it xed to the head 2t on the driven shalt.

Each oi' the planet gears it is nxed to the end of a shaft 2t, journalled in bearings tt and 26, fixed in the end spiders tl and dit of a rotary carrier 29, which is supported on bearings t@ and di on the drive shaft ll. Each shaft iid also carries a longitudinally tapered roller 32 keyed or splined' at oneend tt thereto, so as to rotate therewith and with the gear it and also also provides a center for a coiled compression spring 35 interposed between the roller and a collar t on the shaft.

It will be noted that each shaft tl is inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the carrier Eil, the angle of inclination being equal to the angle oi taper of the roller, so that the outer extremities of the rollers 32 are parallel to the axis of rotation oi the carrier. The rollers 32 are urged along their outwardly inclined supporting shafts by the springs i5 so as to expand the roller group against an encircling ring tl without disturbing the positions of the individual roller axes. The springs t5 thus serve to maintain desired contact pressures 'between the rollers di and ring tl.

The ring ill controls the planetary action oi the rollers 32 and ls adjustable lengthwise of the rollers to regulate that action. It is shown se cured to and within a carrier ring it which is supported upon a guide rod llt and a feed screw t@ which are arranged parallel to each other and to the ams oi rotation of the rotary carrier t9. The carrier ring 38 is slidable along the rod llt and actuated and controlled by the screw il@ which is preferably equipped with a hand wheel il or other appropriate means for manipulation.

In this instance the ring di is split, as at t2, into separable parts to facilitate removal and replacement. lt is shown seated against an interlor tapered face il@ of the carrier ring t8 and removably fixed in place by a clamp ring fit bolted or otherwise xed to the carrier ring.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages o the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a variable speed transmission the combination oi? a carrier mounted for rotation about a iixed axis, a group of tapered planetary rollers supported therein for rotation about individual axes, said last-named axes being inclined relative to said first named axis and fixed relative to said carrier. a control ring contacting and encircling said group of rollers, means for shifting said ring axially over substantially the length of said rollers to regulate their planetary action. torque transmitting gearing including a planetary gear connected to each of said rollers, and reassenso rotation thereof, a non-rotatable, rigid member encircling said roller, means including said carrler for mounting said member and said roller for relative movement with respect to each other both axially and transversely of said axis while inaintaininc1 the inclination of the roller to said airis, and means for moving said member axially over substantiaily the .length of the roller, said rollers being' relatively anal heavy whereby centrifugal force causes relative transverse ent, hringing said rollers and said, ineinto pressure contact,

ble transmission comprising a ported i'or rotation about a centrai conical planetary roller ineens supported rotation with and with respect to the carrier nei inclined. with respect to the axis or" rotation zhereoi, ineens encircling said roller means and moveable longitudinally over substantially the ength thereof, and elastic biasing means asso- :iated with said rolier means to force the latter mward said encircling means to develop pressure :ontact therebetween.

13, A variable speed transmission comprising t carrier supported for rotation about a central axis, conical planetary roller means supported :'or rotation with and with respect; to the carrier and inclined with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, means encircling said roller means and movable longitudinally over substantially the length thereof, and elastic biasing means associitecl with said roller means to force the latter toward said encircling means to develop pressure contact therebetween, said roller means being relatively large and heavy whereby the influence of centrifugal force thereon supplements the action of said elastic biasing means.

14. fs variable speed transmission comprising a non rotating non-contractable ring, a planetary roller centrifugally urged toward said ring and having a substantially conical surface for contact with said ring, means mounting said roller and ring for movement relative to each other both axially and transversely of the axis of said ring, means for effecting said relative transverse movement to additionally urac said roller toward said ring and thereby establish a working pressure between said surface and said ring, and means for effecting said relative axial movement over substantially the extent of said surface to thereby vary the speed ratio of the transmission.

ALFRED GUST BADE. 

